Process of and apparatus for testing plumbing



No. 613,504. Patented Nov. I, I898. v A. A. DUMOND.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING PLUMBING.

(Application filed. Jan. 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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PATENT OFFICE.

.ALONZO A. DUMOND, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR- TESTING PLUMBING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,504, dated November1, 1898.

Application filed January 4, 1 89 8.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALONZO A. DUMOND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, New York, have invented an Improvement inProcesses of and Apparatus for Testing Plumbing, 850., of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in processes and apparatusfor testing plumbing or other systems of pipes, 860., whereby suchoperations are facilitated and rendered cheaper, quicker, and morecertain.

My improvements are fully described and illustrated in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereofbeing specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, representing apparatus adapted to carryingout myimproved process, Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is a plan view.Fig. 3' represents a modification. Fig. 4 is a diagram representing themethod of testing plumbing. Fig. 5 is avertical section of the plug forclosing a ventp1pe. I

In the operation of my improved process for testing plumbing, &c.,Iproduce a dense smoke or fog by passing air charged with ammonia vaporthrough liquid hydrochloric acid, whereby the airbecomes laden with fineparticles of ammonia chlorid, forming a dense White smoke or fog,readily perceptible even in small quantities and which be ing introducedinto a system of plumbing will disclose the existence and location ofeven the slightest leak by its escape in visible form.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented apparatus suitable forcarrying my improved process into effect, consisting of a suitableair-pump A, a vessel or receptacle B for liquid ammonia, a vessel orreceptacle 0 for liquid hydrochloric acid, and suitable piping andconnectionswhereby compressed air from the pump is discharged throughthe liquid ammonia and there having become charged with the gas iscaused to pass through the liquid hydroohloricjacid, by contact withwhich it becomes densely laden with chlorid of ammonia in very fineparticles, which are Serial No- 665,538. (No model.)

held in suspension and conveyed by the air into the plumbing which it isdesired to test. The combination of the gaseous ammonia with the chlorintakes place entirely within the liquid hydrochloric acid, by which meansI am enabled to secure a very dense or heavily= charged smoke or fog,which is much better adapted to disclose the presence of leaks in thepiping than any vapor heretofore used, since a very small quantity of itissuing from a minute opening can be readily observed. As the bubbles ofthe air charged with the ammonia-gas rise through the liquid hydrochloric acid they are rendered white by the formation of the ammoniachlorid within them.

Any suitable air-pump may be employed, either single or double acting orrotary. A foot-bellows may also be used.

, D is a pipe which conducts the compressed air from the pump into thevessel 13, extending below the surface of the liquid ammonia therein.The pipe D may be provided with one or more check-valves.

E is a pressure-gage which may be attached to any suitable part of theapparatus.

Fis a pipewhich carries the air charged with the ammonia into the liquidhydrochloric acid. The vessel 0 is filled with the acid, so that thebubbles pass up through a considerable depth of the liquid, and therebybecome thoroughly saturatedwith the ammonia chlorid.

' G is a pipe by which the smoke is led to the plumbing or other systemof pipes, &c. A bulb or other suitable drip-cup H may be arranged topermit any acid carried up by the air-current to disengage itself and toreturn to the vessel 0. The pipe G is preferably fleXi-' ble andconnected to the plumbing or other system of pipes in any suitablemanner and at any convenient place. Thus it may be atusualventilation-pipe K, which is provided with an expansible plug J, or itmay be connected to any branch pipe, as L, or it may be passed throughthe water in a water closet or other trap, The best manner of attachmentwill be readily determined by the experienced plumber on inspecting anygiven system. In most cases it is preferable to fill the piping 'tachedto a pipe I, Fig. 5, at the top of any with the smoke at atmosphericpressure before closing it, as by the plug J or other suitable device,before putting on any pressure. A stop-cock N, interposed anywhere inthe delivery-pipe G, serves to permit the renewal of the chemicalswithout losing the pressure in the system.

I prefer to employ the stronger water ammonia of the shops andconcentrated commercial hydrochloric acid; but solutions of lessstrength may be employed. It will also be understood that thehydrochloric acid may be placed in the vessel B and the ammonia in C;but I prefer the arrangement shown. I11 either case the contact of theair with the liquid which produces the ammonia chlorid is preferablyprolonged to render the smoke dense, and for this purpose any suitableperforated partitions O or other suitable devices may be employed in thevessel 0. It will also be understood that the air may be drawn throughthe receptacles and liquids instead of being forced and that it may bedelivered from the pump under compression to the plumbing.

The receptacles B and C may be made of glass or other suitable materialnot corroded by the liquids, glass being preferred, as it allows theinspection of the chemicals. The vessels are closed at the top in anysuitable way, bottles with rubber corks forming a cheap and effectiveconstruction.

P is a suitable base to which the pump and the receptacles are secured.

The whole apparatus may be inclosed Within a suitable case Q, providedwith doors at the top or sides and with handles for convenience ofcarriage.

In Fig. 3 I have representeda modification by which provision is madefor introducing ether, peppermint, or other volatile substance into theplumbing. The liquid is placed in the vessel R, and the charged air ispassed through it by a suitable pipe F and delivered into the plumbingby the pipe G, which may be provided with the drip II.

This apparatus may also be used for introducing any suitabledisinfectant into the plumbing, the. In systems of plumbing which havebeen in use for some time the air may be already charged with sufficientammonia to produce the cloud upon the introduction of the acid vaporalone, and a suiiicient supply of ammonia may be found at times inordinary rain or river water, the passing of the acid vapor throughwhich will form a cloud which may be used as herein described fordetecting leaks.

My improved apparatus is simple and cheap, readily portable, and can beeasily examined and repaired, and affords a thoroughly satisfactorymanner of testing any system of plumbing for leaks or bad joints. Theordinary plumbers pump may be employed. It may also be applied to manyother purposes, such as testing gas-pipes, gas-meters, oiltanks,tank-cars, ammonia refrigerating systems, tanks for beer, &c. Anyrequisite pressure may be employed, the joints between the pipes and theclosures of the receptacles being secured in any suitable manner.

It will be understood that in my invention the ammonic chlorid is formedentirely beneath and in the liquid in the vessel G, whereby I secure thegreater density of the charge in the air.

It will be understood that the cloud of ammonic chlorid may be formedwithin the plumbing itself by first introducing the ammonia vapor intothe pipes and then forcing into them the air charged with thehydrochloric vapor. This may be readily accomplished also by theapparatus shown by using the delivery-pipe G to convey the ammonia vaporto the interior of the piping and by then using the pump and thedelivery-pipe to introduce into the system a charge of acid vapor alone,thereby producing the cloud in the piping, &c., and then applying anyrequired amount of pressure to disclose the presence and location of anyleaks. This process can also be employed by introducing liquid ammoniainto the pipes, or they may be charged with the acid vapor first. Themanner of using these modifications of my invention will be readilyunderstood by the experienced plumber.

I claim- 1. The herein-described process of testing systems of plumbing,&c., consisting in producing in air a dense charge of ammonia chlorid bypassing said air in succession through liquid ammonia and liquidhydrochloric acid, and in subsequently introducing said charged air intothe system or receptacle to be tested, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a suitable pump, of closed vessels for liquidammonia and liquid hydrochloric acid, suitable connectingpiping arrangedto deliver the air into said liquids in succession, and a suitableconnecting-pipe whereby the charged air is delivered to the plumbing orreceptacle to be tested, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a suitable pump, of closed vessels for liquidammonia and liquid hydrochloric acid, suitable connectingpiping arrangedto deliver the air into said liquids in succession, a suitableconnectingpipe whereby the charged air is delivered to the plumbing orreceptacle to be tested, and a suitable drip or liquid-return device inthe said pipe, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with the pump A and closed vessel B of the pipe Dprovided with a check-valve and extending beneath the 1iquid in B, thevessel 0 and connecting-pipe F extending beneath the liquid in O, andthe outlet or delivery pipe G, substantially as described.

5. The herein-described process of testing plumbing, &c., consisting inintroducing in succession into the system to be tested charges of vaporof ammonia and of hydrochloric acid, and in subsequently applyingpressure to the closed system, substantially as described.

6. The herein-described process of testing plumbing, &c. consisting incharging the system With ammonia vapor, in subsequently in- 1 troducingtherein a charge of hydrochloricacid vapor, and in applying pressure tothe closed system, substantially as described.

ALONZO A. DUMOND. Witnesses:

GEO. WILSON, GEO. B. SELDEN.

